I’m back on blog duty today as Hasi is a busy bee. We are nearing the beginning of December. Lots of lovely traditions are about to take place: first of Advent, first door on the Christmas calendar… But, we are still in November. And November in my office means one thing: Movember! Throughout the month the men have been busy growing moustaches in a bid to raise money for prostate and testicular cancer. It’s a great cause and deserves all the support it can get. It has been fun to watch the ‘taches grow and support the men through encouragement and donations. And maybe the one or two fake ‘taches. We are now nearing the end and I’m sure the guys are quite looking forward to looking like the old selves again soon. But before it is all shaved off, have a look. See how well they have done!

longing, incredulous, sad, expectant, fascinated, full of anticipation, alone, lost in dreams… I could go on and still wouldn’t find the word that describes this child in front of the decorated shop window.

Kid in front of a window shop seen at Alexander Platz, Berlin – November 2013.

I took another way home just to stop by for the opening of the Zoo Palast after three years of renovations. The Zoo Palast is located on an area, where there used to be already a cinema, showing movies as early as in 1915. Many German movies had their premiere here, for example Metropolis in 1927. In World War II the so called Palasttheater am Zoo was almost completely destroyed and finally demolished in 1955. The actual Zoo Palast was built in 1956/1957. Originally it had two halls, a sensation by then. The fassade today is under protection of historical buildings. From 1957 to 1999 the Zoo Palast was the central venue during the Berlinale. Today the cinema is opening again and next year it will become again Berlinale venue. This is great!

Little letter anecdote: During the renovations the lettering was taken and lots, lots of people and organisation asked if they could keep the letters. Among them Hasi and Buchstabenmuseum, but they weren’t very successfull. Finally the letters were shown in an Opera piece before being placed back.

I am really happy about this reopening, I think the place looks great. Can’t wait to go the cinema next week.

Very long day, took the 6am train to Frankfurt am Main this morning, went to some meetings (more about it tomorrow) and 18 hours later I’ve finally arrived home.

Deutsche Bahn is funny, delays, construction sites, wrong indications on the ticket but… from Frankfurt to Hannover it was said several times while waiting on the platform that the train would not stop before Hannover. Well, once on the train at some point the train driver announced “Despite announcements on the speaker some guests traveling with us thought we were stopping in Kassel (half way between Frankfurt and Hannover). Giving them the possibility to go home earlier and not have a stressful night, this train will stop a moment in Kassel to drop them”. All the people on the compartment started to laugh. No one got off at Kassel. Maybe because they did have too. Maybe because they were ashamed. Anyhow, good to know the Deutsche Bahn breaks the rules to make you come home early.

Long day discovering the Eastern part in Berlin: breakie at Alexanderplatz, cycling along Karl Marx Allee, arriving at Karlshorst (one hour and a half later) and visiting the German-Russian Museum Berlin Karlshorst. Quite impressive and emotional. Back to the city, Nikolaiviertel and having a yummy delicious linner (lunch and dinner) in a Kneipe. Now at home. Tired but in a good way.

This pic is on our way from Karlshorst back to Berlin at Karl Marx Allee.

Don't ever change yourself to impress someone, cause they should be impressed that you don't change to please others -- When you are going through something hard and wonder where God is, always remember that the teacher is always quiet during a test --- Unknown